Grab device



H. M. LUNDY GRAB DEVICE Filed May 13, 1930 V enry /'7 lunaj/ W CZ 5 Attorney Patented May 3, 1932 UNETED STATES HENRY M. LUND Y, OF SPOKANE, WASHINGTON GRAB DEVICE Application filed May 13, 1930. serm no. 451,972.

My invention relates tograb devices and more particularly to a device comprising a grab member mounted on a vehicle, such as a locomotive, train caboose or the like, andalso 5' comprising a stationary member secured to the ground whereby the vehicle or train,

while running at high speed, may seize a holder member that is detachably mounted on the stationary member. Theprimary object of the invention is the'deliverj of orders or messages carried by the holder member to the engineer or train crew and, embodies means for delivery of such messages to one or more locomotives or vehicles and to the caboose of the train. Further objects of the invention are to provide novel release devices for detachably retaining the holder member, novel grab means, and other novel details of construction and arrangement.

With the above and other objects inview which will appear as the description proceeds, the invention consists of the novel construction, adaptation, combination and arrangement of parts hereinafter described and claimed. These objects are accomplished by devices illustrated in the accompanying drawings; wherein Figure 1 is a view in elevation .of the complete device and showing a portion of a locomotive cab withits grab member disposed in cooperative relation with the holder memher that is detachably mounted on thestationary release member;

Fig. 2 is an enlarged detail view in perspective showing the outer end portion of the grab member in cooperative relation with the holder member;

Fig. 3 is a detail view in vertical section showing the assembly of one of the release devices which devices detachably retain the holder member;

Fig. 4: is a fragmentary view in elevation showing the means for yieldingly retaining e5 the pivotal arms of the stationary release member in the inoperative position;

' Fig. 5 is a detail plan view' of the bracket support for the grab member; Fig. 6 is a fragmentary detail view, partly in elevation and partly in section, showing the adjustable connection between the igrab arm and the grab frame; 7 r Fig. 7 is a detail Viewin perspective of the 'slidable'sleeve and retainer means for one of the release devices; and

Fig. 8 is a detail view in perspective showing the cylindrical housing forthe sleeve and spring of one of the release devices.

Referring to the drawings throughout which like reference numerals indicate like parts and more particularly'to Fig. l, the numeral 5 designates the standard or post of the stationary portion of the device whose base is ordinarily fixed to a concrete pier 6 on the ground. A lower arm 7 is pivotedat 8 to the standard and an upper arm 9 is pivoted at 10 to said standard. The outer end of the lower arm is provided with a single pairof spaced apart release devices each designated as a wholeby the numeral 11 and which are mounted ona bracket 12, and the upper arm is provided with a double pair of such release devices mounted in spaced relation on a double bracket 13. The upper arm is therefore adapted to release two mes sages, such as for instance, totwo locomotives pulling one train of coaches and' known as a double header, while the lower arm is adapted'to release one message, such as for instance, to the'caboose of the train.

The upper arm 9 is provided with a counter-weight'l l that is adapted to retain said arm in the normally horizontal or operative position against a stop bracket 15 secured to the standard 5. ,Said arm is also i provided with a pull cord 16 passing downwardly over a sheave or guide 17 fixed to the standard and is provided with a handle 18 at its lower end whereby the arm may be pulled downwardly to the inoperative position shown in dotted lines in Fig. 1. The means for retaining said arm in the inoperative position, as shown in detail in Fig. 4,

comprises a bracket 19 offset from the standard and having a spring clip 20 secured to its outer flanged end. A tongue 21 connected to said arm and having a contracted middle portion is adapted to project between the jaws of said spring, in the downward position, the tension of whoseouter contracted end portions yieldingly retains the tongue in the grasp of the spring jaws. The tension of said spring jaws may be regulated by a handle '25 whereby the arm may be pulled upwardly to the dotted position shown in Fig. 1. In the operative or horizontal position said arm rests by its own weight on a bracket arm 26 and is provided with a tongue 27 that is adapted to be held by a'spring re taining means 28 when the arm is in the upward or inoperative position. Said spring retaining means is identical withtha't previously described for the upper arm 9 and no-further description'is deemed necessary.

A step ladder 29 provides means whereby an operator may reach the upperand lower arms for manipulation of the releasing devices.

Iii-Fig. 3 er the drawings one. of. the release devices 11 is shown in detail, and, as all six pf. said devicesare identical, a description oftonly one is considered necessary. Said devices comprise a cylindrical housing 30, shown in detail in Fig. 8, having a closed-end wall 3l and a slot 32 extending the fulllength thereof. The .open end portion of said housingisseGured'by-a pin 33 .into a cup 34 formed onla deflected end portion of the brackets 12 or'13. Said housing is disposed in the vertical position when the .arm 7 or 9 is in the horizontal Or -operative position and in this pesitionits slot is on the outer side ofthe housing. Asleeve member 35, shown indetail in Fig. 7, is slidably mounted within said housing andis provided with a closed end 36. Said sleeve has a relatively narrow short arm 37 extending at right angles from its open end portion and a relatively wide lip 38, .formed on the end of said arm, is disposed .in parallel relation with said sleeve.

Inthe installed position of the sleeve 35 its closedend 36=is disposed withinthe bracket cup 34 and its shortarm 37 projects slidably through the slot 32 of the'cylindrical housing 30. A coiled spring. 39 has one of ,its ends bearing against the closed end of said sleeve andits other end bearing against the closed wall 31 of said cylindrical housing. Thus,.in the expanded position, said spring normally retains the sleeve 'fully within the-bracket .cup portion of the housing. with its short arm bearing against the open end ed e portionof the cup as clearly showninFig, 3 of the drawings.

In each cooperative pair of release devices .11 'the sleeves 35are oppositely arranged so that their springs 39 hold them away from each other in a relatively expanded position and they may be contracted or drawn togeth er by pressing. their lips 38 toward each other whereby their arms 37 will be slidably moved inthe housing slots 32 to the dotted position shown in Fig. 3. In this position the two hooked ends 40 of an arm 41, that is secured to the rectangular frame 42 of the holder or message carrier member, may be caught over their respective lips and when the pressureon their springs is released they will expansively retain said holder or carrier member in place and in readiness to be caught by the grab member. As shown in Fig. 2, a leaf spring 43, secured to the underside of 'the rectangular carrier frame, provides means for holding the paper or envelope containing the message that is to be delivered .to the train crew.

' The grab member comprises a bracket 44 that is secured to the vehicle, train cab or coach .at the proper elevation. .Said .bracket is provided with an upstanding-pin 45 and a pair ofspaced-upstanding?guide-lugs 46 as mostclearly-shownin Fig.5.. Agrab-arm 1 47 fits between said lugs and is provided with an. end. eye 48 which fits over said pin where by the arm detachabl y retainedin-the proper horizontal :operative position. Said grab arnihas a :Usshaped grab vframe 49 yieldingly held in .a slot 502-by a bolt 51 whose extended threaded end portion has a coiled spring ,52 thereon which is .tensioned by:anut.53 as shown in detailin Fig. 6., This arrangement provides means whereby said frame' may ibe slipped :from .its slot, turned over and allowed to snap back into its slot. Thusitrwill be seen that the framelmay be reversed andltlielentire grab. member .detached from itsbracket and .installed 'on a correspondingbracketon .tlieother'side .of-the cab, coach or other vehicle.

TheHU-sha md-grab frame 49 hasalocks ing. bar. .54 :pivotally secured at. 55 .to the outerendoflits .upperarmand the lower end portion .oi'said 'bar is arranged .to1nonmally rest against the outer end ofaslotl56 in the outer end portion of .the lower .arm ofsaid frame. Assuming that the 'hooks40 of the holder member .are caught over. and .under the lips 38 ..respectively of ".the releasing device asshownin .the lower. pair of: releasing devices in Fig. 1, when. -said locking bar strikes theupper member of the rectangular holder frame 42 said .bar will pivotally swing 1 hack 'free ofits slot allowingthe frame member topass inside of the 'U-shaped grab frame as clearly shown in Fig. 2. The locking bar will immediately fall back to its normally locked position within its slot thus preventing the hdlder frame from escape. The grab arm 47 will then strike both endm'embers of the holder iirame .atithe same time,

knocking saidframetiiromits hold-by the llO being understood that minor changes may be resorted to in its construction and arrangement without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention, What I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is l. A releasing device comprising a cup member, a cylindrical housing connected to the cup and having a slot therein, a sleeve member slidably mounted within the cylindrical housing, a short arm for said sleeve slidably disposed through the housing slot, a lip member for the arm, and a springarranged to yieldingly retain the sleeve in one end portion of the cylindrical housing.

2. A grab device having in combination a grab arm detachably secured to a vehicle at right angles thereto, means whereby said grab arm may be reversed to the" opposite side of the vehicle, a U-shaped grab frame detachably secured to said arm, spring and pivot connecting means whereby said frame may be reversed by turning same over without disconnecting same from the arm, a locking bar pivotally connected to the upper arm of said grab frame, a rectangular message carrying member, a leaf spring message holder for the message carrying member, hooked arms for said message carrying member, a stationary release member mounted on the ground, a plurality of releasing devices for said release member, the hooked arms for the message carrying member being adapted to be detachably connected to said releasing devices in the path of the grab frame, the locking bar of the grab frame being arranged to pivotally move when contacted by the message carrying member whereby said carrying member is locked into the grab frame, and the message carrying member being adapted to be dislodged from the release member upon contact by the grab arm.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature.

HENRY M. LUNDY. 

